Autos & Motorbikes

Ready for a mouthful? Okay, well, somewhere out there in the world, there is a company called Herpa Miniaturmodelle GmbH, and although it sounds sort of like a highly contagious disease or something, it is actually a car company that specializes in making full scale models. This is notable because at a fairly recent Frankfurt auto show — the IAA, actually — the company revealed the Trabant nT concept, which is totally electric.

This car is a modern take on a more classic car, although I have to say that, as far as the exterior goes, the only thing really modern I see is the rather boxy shape. That’s not a slight; I think the vehicle looks awesome. I am just saying that this so called modern take could be taken a bit deeper — but at the same time I am glad it is not.

Now that Christmas is over – I can tell you that people are gearing right up for the Detroit Auto Show next month and I can tell you that it is going to be absolutely beautiful and a ton of different cars are going to be there.  One car that I am particularly excited about is the Fiat 500C.

This car is a car that I have not only been waiting to see but it is a car that looks awesome!  The small, compact feature of it is truly something that fits right in where the future is going in the way of cars.

Personally – I think that the Fiat 500C is going to be the highlight at the Detroit Auto Show and I can’t wait to see it up close and personal!

My favorite female poker player, Vanessa “Maverick” Rousso has shown once again why she is one of the most interesting and most exciting poker players of this generation: she just bought herself a beautiful deep yellow Lamborghini Gallardo – and she looks great in her Pokerstars/GoDaddy attire driving it, I’m sure.

Here’s a video of Vanessa and her brand new Lamborghini.

Congratulations, Mrs. Rousso!

If you have been a huge fan of Subaru since the beginning of time and you have been waiting for this brand to bring their special-edition WRX models to the US, well … your wait is over.  Finally, the 2010 Subaru WRX STI Special Edition is going to be released in the states and while we have been waiting for this to happen, it is not a surprise or a big deal to a lot of people.

For some, they are noticing the smallest little things about the 2010 Subaru WRX STI Special Edition – like the downgraded stereo – which has a single disc, four speakers versus the six disc, ten speakers combination that was once in the WRX. 

To me?  Not a huge deal.  I have been waiting for the Special Edition to be released forever.

Recently in Hawthorne, CA, at Tesla’s design studio, the independent firm unveiled the brand new prototype for the Tesla Model S. This is the second vehicle in the company’s rather small range, and the first to be designed by the inestimable Franz von Holzhausen. The coupe has four doors and is as sleek as you would want. It has Tesla’s brand new face, but the DLO shape and the car’s proportions are like Aston Martin’s Rapide concept, which debuted back in 2006.

The Model S has a panoramic roof made of glass. It is split into two different sections and flows flawlessly back into the steep backlight. In the rear, there are design cues similar to the Jaguar XF sedan.

The interior is all high tech luxury. If one opts for the extra rear facing seats, one could fit five adults as well as two kids within the car.

Wow, wow, wow. The Renault Ondelios is definitely a hot piece of work.

It is a luxury crossover with a twist — it is hybrid powered. The concept was recently revealed during Renault’s home show. It will fit six people with individual bucket seats set up in three rows with two seats each.

The vehicle has something rather rakish about it which reviewers thus far seem to love. Its body is made of a lightweight carbon, its design is very aerodynamic, and really, in a word, it just looks like it is going to be a super hot car.

There are lots of elegant and luxurious touches that continue to make this seem like a straight up sports car.

I swear, one of the biggest names in the world of cars is Mini – and I am seeing the Mini Cooper pop up everywhere!  So I am from Michigan and I was in a little town called Plymouth the other day and what do you know it … I saw at least five Mini’s in the parking garage!  However … we are not here to talk about the Cooper, we are here to talk about the Mini Countryman Concept.

This is actually one of the most highly anticipated releases of a car and I have to say that this little crossover vehicle is actually going to be one of the best – once it comes out mind you.  This little Mini crossover actually will not meet everyone’s eye until next year at the Geneva show – not the Detroit one.

So if you are looking forward to the Mini Countryman Concept as much as I am – go to Geneva next year!

In this economy, I think that there is really only one automaker that is really doing really well and that is Toyota.  The Pruis is one car that is doing exceptional but without that – I have to say that Toyota seems to want to take over the world!  This Japanese auto-maker is truly fighting for their life as Hyundai is racking up the sales.

So when Hyundai released their 2010 cars in Korea, do you want to know what Toyota just did?  Well, the 2010 Toyota Camry is making its way on over and honestly; I think that the 2010 Toyota Camry entering into the Korean market is a fantastic idea!

If you live in Korea and you have been waiting for the 2010 Toyota Camry – it’s on its way!  I can promise you that!

Nissan was noticeably absent at the recent auto show in Frankfurt, but the automaker intends to make up for that fact when they unveil a brand new, undoubtedly innovative concept at the upcoming motor show in Tokyo.

The Nissan Land Glider is a very narrow vehicle — while thirty one hundred millimeters long, it is only eleven hundred millimeters wide. It is designed to seat two passengers in tandem, and two electric motors, located in the rear, power the car with the help of lithium ion batteries.

This concept was evidently inspired by motorbikes — specifically, the freedom and agility they offer. The structure is quite like a cocoon, and it feels safe to say I have never seen a vehicle that looks like this one ever before.

Have you been waiting for a Ferrari that you can get from point A to point B?  Have you been looking for a Ferrari hatchback?  Well – the Abarth 695 Tributo Ferrari is certainly the car for you then!  This is actually a special edition car that is not only beautiful on the outside, but when you think about the name that is attached to this particular car, you know that you are going to be getting something exotic and different.

The 180+hp 1.4-liter 16-valve turbo four, a retuned suspension, paddle-shift transmission, 17-inch rims, Brembo brakes and unique touches in every nook and cranny of the diminutive retro hatchback.  This car is awesome – so awesome and I can’t wait for it to come out!

To me – this particular car sort of looks like a very updated VW Bug but way, way, hotter!